Protecting Birds

Protecting Birds

Siting, constructing, and operating offshore wind projects in a responsible manner can help to minimize possible stresses on birds. The New York State Environmental Technical Working Group is working with developers, environmental non-governmental organizations, and State and federal agencies to develop best management practices to understand and avoid or minimize impacts of offshore wind energy development on birds. Steps for consideration in reducing these stresses could include:

Selecting sites that minimize the potential for birds to fly into turbines or lose important habitats by the permanent placement of structures

Designing turbines to diminish the ability of birds to nest, perch, and roost on sites to minimize the potential for birds to fly into the turbines

Changing light use to help reduce the potential for birds to fly into the turbines for example by using fewer lights, flashing or strobing lights, lower intensity lights, and lights that are non-white colors to reduce the attraction of birds to the turbines at night

Curtailing land-based wind turbine operations has been shown in some instances to reduce bird mortality during inclement weather, migratory, or breeding seasons, however this has not been verified with offshore turbines

Offshore Wind

NYSERDA is leading the coordination of offshore wind opportunities in New York State and is supporting the development of 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035 in a responsible and cost-effective manner. Offshore wind will be a crucial step on the pathway to a carbon-neutral economy as Governor Andrew M. Cuomo proposed in his Green New Deal, a nation-leading clean energy and jobs agenda. Offshore wind will support the Governor’s call for 70 percent of New York’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030.